Inland Fisheries

Production Trend

At the global level, about 85 % of the world fish production comes from the ocean and only 15 % is contributed by fresh water. However, in India, the picture is different. In 1950-51, the share of marine fisheries was 71 % of the total fish production of 7.52 tonnes. During the 1970s and 1980s, the share of inland fisheries was just above one-third of the total fish production. Later, it gradually increased to reach nearly 40 per cent in 1980 – 81 and 71 % in 2005 -06. It is sometimes argued that the increase in the share of inland fisheries was, on the one hand, due to deceleration in growth in marine fish production and on the other because of a policy shift in favour of inland fisheries, especially, aquaculture.

The following table shows the inland fish production and the average annual growth rate in production in India during 1950-51 to 2005-06.

Fish Production in India during 1950-51 to 2005-06

Year	Fish Production (‘000 tonnes)Inland	Average Annual Growth Rate (percent)	Year	Fish Production (‘000 tonnes) Inland	Average Annual Growth Rate (percent)
1950-51	218	-	1989-90	1402	16.66
1955-56	243	2.31	1990-91	1536	4.32
1960-61	280	7.65	1991-92	1710	8.37
1965-66	507	2.95	1992-93	1789	5.00
1970-71	670	6.39	1993-94	1995	6.39
1973-74	748	3.83	1994-95	2097	3.12
1978-79	816	3.55	1995-96	2242	3.34
1979-80	848	1.47	1996-97	2381	8.06
1980-81	887	4.36	1997-98	2438	0.75
1981-82	999	0.08	1998-99	2602	-1.67
1982-83	940	-3.15	1999-00	2823	7.12
1983-84	987	5.87	2000-01	2845	-0.33
1984-85	1103	11.77	2001-02	3126	5.30
1985-86	1160	2.68	2002-03	3210	4.10
1986-87	1229	2.29	2003-04	3458	3.21
1987-88	1301	0.58	2004-05	3526	-1.48
1988-89	1335	6.52	2005-06	3719	3.55